Why the Iron Curtain Still Keeps Germany Divided
video description
Date: 2025-03-21
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 20
walz1986
At 21: 46 there is a big mistake. The railroads in east Germany where much better then in west Germany. Because western Germany did not invest in it because everyone was urged to buy a car. But in Eastern Germany the railroad was the way to go, so they kept it going fine. But after the reunification this got screwed by the unified German Railroad company, because they did not invest in the infrastructure. And the trail from Hamburg to Berlin took so long because there were border checks and the railway was supervised by the military.
And also regarding the industry: Eastern Germany had its main market in the eastern block and not in the west. Everyone in the west already had there supplier so they could not contest. But Eastern Germany was the main industrial power house in the whole east block. But the machines where not modernized like every five years in the west, so they had to be modernized all in one go, which is really expensive so trying to privatize it gets quit hard. Most Businessmen investing in eastern industry came from the west, cause they could just outbid the easterner and just wanted to by the patents and not the company. And the German government (lead by the CDU) was not interested in investing in it.
So you had old machines, no money and because the east block was also falling apart no market. And that was followed by a massive brain drain from the east to the west. Because eastern Germany had better educated workers, who often also worked for less. And moving was the easy part for most.
And the industry in western Germany was a bit struggeling around 1988, but it really pushed itself healty by the reunification. New good educated workers, a new market. So the rebuilding in eastern Germany was the best that could happen to western Germany Industry. But sadly the eastern inhabitants felt left out. Because we have no migration problem her in Germany neither in the east nor in the west, where much more migrants live.
reply
At 21: 46 there is a big mistake. The railroads in east Germany where much better then in west Germany. Because western Germany did not invest in it because everyone was urged to buy a car. But in Eastern Germany the railroad was the way to go, so they kept it going fine. But after the reunification this got screwed by the unified German Railroad company, because they did not invest in the infrastructure. And the trail from Hamburg to Berlin took so long because there were border checks and the railway was supervised by the military.
And also regarding the industry: Eastern Germany had its main market in the eastern block and not in the west. Everyone in the west already had there supplier so they could not contest. But Eastern Germany was the main industrial power house in the whole east block. But the machines where not modernized like every five years in the west, so they had to be modernized all in one go, which is really expensive so trying to privatize it gets quit hard. Most Businessmen investing in eastern industry came from the west, cause they could just outbid the easterner and just wanted to by the patents and not the company. And the German government (lead by the CDU) was not interested in investing in it.
So you had old machines, no money and because the east block was also falling apart no market. And that was followed by a massive brain drain from the east to the west. Because eastern Germany had better educated workers, who often also worked for less. And moving was the easy part for most.
And the industry in western Germany was a bit struggeling around 1988, but it really pushed itself healty by the reunification. New good educated workers, a new market. So the rebuilding in eastern Germany was the best that could happen to western Germany Industry. But sadly the eastern inhabitants felt left out. Because we have no migration problem her in Germany neither in the east nor in the west, where much more migrants live.
reply
Freak80MC
Why did they even want to reunify in the first place Both countries were 50 years diverged from one another in terms of culture and economics and a whole bunch of other stuff. Unifying was just asking for the poorer side to drag down the richer side and with the political stuff at the start of the video, it seems now that East Germany is also dragging down the West politically back into possibly a Nazi revival.
This all seems like obvious stuff that would and should have been foreseen before they decided on the unification. At that point it really feels like they only unified not for any rational reasons, but because oh we were one country before, we should be again! When it would have been more natural to keep both countries separate.
People CAN learn to live together, but on the whole its easier to just let them be separate unless they are very, VERY alike in the first place. Asking two groups of people who were divided for 50 years to reunify was just asking for disaster.
2025-03-17, 4: 58pm
reply
Why did they even want to reunify in the first place Both countries were 50 years diverged from one another in terms of culture and economics and a whole bunch of other stuff. Unifying was just asking for the poorer side to drag down the richer side and with the political stuff at the start of the video, it seems now that East Germany is also dragging down the West politically back into possibly a Nazi revival.
This all seems like obvious stuff that would and should have been foreseen before they decided on the unification. At that point it really feels like they only unified not for any rational reasons, but because oh we were one country before, we should be again! When it would have been more natural to keep both countries separate.
People CAN learn to live together, but on the whole its easier to just let them be separate unless they are very, VERY alike in the first place. Asking two groups of people who were divided for 50 years to reunify was just asking for disaster.
2025-03-17, 4: 58pm
reply
DJDarkrobe
Glorifying the fact that women had high work rates in East German society as a women's rights issue, is beyond the pale (17: 23. The societal consequences of these actions insured that indoctrination of children to the communist ideology occured, destroyed the nuclear family, degraded family values and cohesion. The bedrock of a civil society is how well it's families are integrated and the children are raised with common and ethical morals. There is a reason why free societies are found in the west under Christian values and why the rest of the world is a nightmare configuration of authorism and dictators.
At least one parent belongs at home to raise children, which offers better societal outcomes than when children are raised by strangers. You have tainted your work with liberal ideology which is very apparent in the videos of late, it would be better if you gave a more central unbiased viewpoint.
reply
Glorifying the fact that women had high work rates in East German society as a women's rights issue, is beyond the pale (17: 23. The societal consequences of these actions insured that indoctrination of children to the communist ideology occured, destroyed the nuclear family, degraded family values and cohesion. The bedrock of a civil society is how well it's families are integrated and the children are raised with common and ethical morals. There is a reason why free societies are found in the west under Christian values and why the rest of the world is a nightmare configuration of authorism and dictators.
At least one parent belongs at home to raise children, which offers better societal outcomes than when children are raised by strangers. You have tainted your work with liberal ideology which is very apparent in the videos of late, it would be better if you gave a more central unbiased viewpoint.
reply
fonkbadonk5370
Current day social media - and more so how liberally people use it - would have been SUCH a wet dream of every Stasi officer, that they all would have drowned in their sleep.
This very experience is to this day a huuuge part for why Germans are so very serious about data protection and (especially online) privacy. East Germans back before the war would mostly also have thought I've got nothing to hide, so what, with very little reason to believe that this could ever change. It did. Quite quickly. Had social media existed back then, you can bet your bottom dollar that AT LEAST 10% of the people would have been prosecuted for being dissidents by mere association with some of their fb friends or insta followers alone on day one.
reply
Current day social media - and more so how liberally people use it - would have been SUCH a wet dream of every Stasi officer, that they all would have drowned in their sleep.
This very experience is to this day a huuuge part for why Germans are so very serious about data protection and (especially online) privacy. East Germans back before the war would mostly also have thought I've got nothing to hide, so what, with very little reason to believe that this could ever change. It did. Quite quickly. Had social media existed back then, you can bet your bottom dollar that AT LEAST 10% of the people would have been prosecuted for being dissidents by mere association with some of their fb friends or insta followers alone on day one.
reply
jahknem
I am german and have lived in that what was west germany all my life (so since 95. Muchof this I did not know and I am thoroughly sorry for what east germans had to go through. That being said, I won't insult their intelligence by believing they actually think that voting AfD will solve any of this. As such, my sympathy is much reduced by this trend.
Also in my opinion you left a lot of stuff out which woudl have created a more adjusted picture. Saying that the west is trying to impose mass migration on the east is simply not true. It's not like anybody actually wants to move to the eastern countryside, especially not non-germans. No one likes being burned alive.
reply
I am german and have lived in that what was west germany all my life (so since 95. Muchof this I did not know and I am thoroughly sorry for what east germans had to go through. That being said, I won't insult their intelligence by believing they actually think that voting AfD will solve any of this. As such, my sympathy is much reduced by this trend.
Also in my opinion you left a lot of stuff out which woudl have created a more adjusted picture. Saying that the west is trying to impose mass migration on the east is simply not true. It's not like anybody actually wants to move to the eastern countryside, especially not non-germans. No one likes being burned alive.
reply
CharileWaffles
I’m surprised you didn’t mention this. Recently Germany and many other European countries have been secretly importing dangerous illegal immigrants into their countries that consists mostly of middle age men. But the legacy media will never show this. They’re secretly trying to cover it up. The Germany election map has another meaning. The people on the East side voted for the AFD because they know what life was like before unification. Whatever views people have on the AFD, they’re probably the only change if Germany still wants to stay afloat. But sadly that’s not the case anymore. It seems that importing illegal immigrants seems to help the SPD.
reply
I’m surprised you didn’t mention this. Recently Germany and many other European countries have been secretly importing dangerous illegal immigrants into their countries that consists mostly of middle age men. But the legacy media will never show this. They’re secretly trying to cover it up. The Germany election map has another meaning. The people on the East side voted for the AFD because they know what life was like before unification. Whatever views people have on the AFD, they’re probably the only change if Germany still wants to stay afloat. But sadly that’s not the case anymore. It seems that importing illegal immigrants seems to help the SPD.
reply
reallifelore
You made mention at around 7 minutes in that the Soviets pursued a much more intense de-nazification program in the east than the allies in the west: this is not entirely accurate. The East German Stasi and even the new East German communist parties were filled with ex Gestapo and SS members, but only the ones willing to just start calling themselves communists. Tony Judt made this point at length in his book Post-War on the history of Europe after WWII. In fact many former members of the Nazi Party, SS, and Gestapo all made their way into the new Soviet States and their security apparatus.
reply
You made mention at around 7 minutes in that the Soviets pursued a much more intense de-nazification program in the east than the allies in the west: this is not entirely accurate. The East German Stasi and even the new East German communist parties were filled with ex Gestapo and SS members, but only the ones willing to just start calling themselves communists. Tony Judt made this point at length in his book Post-War on the history of Europe after WWII. In fact many former members of the Nazi Party, SS, and Gestapo all made their way into the new Soviet States and their security apparatus.
reply
reallifelore
There are now millions of young people all over the west who are consciously working towards moving their respective countries back to like East Germany. It's really quite mad, I don't think anyone will ever be able to explain that: whatever grievances you might have about the present state of the world, the notion that there are any answers to be had in remodelling society in the image of these horrible 20th century communist experiments despite the wealth of both recent and concrete data proving what a dreadful idea it is, that's something that will never not be puzzling.
reply
There are now millions of young people all over the west who are consciously working towards moving their respective countries back to like East Germany. It's really quite mad, I don't think anyone will ever be able to explain that: whatever grievances you might have about the present state of the world, the notion that there are any answers to be had in remodelling society in the image of these horrible 20th century communist experiments despite the wealth of both recent and concrete data proving what a dreadful idea it is, that's something that will never not be puzzling.
reply
rambazamba9575
Man, what are you talking about. You are not wrong entirely, but it is more about free speech and migration. The east does not want to become the multicultural shithole the west is. Simple as that. And the east doesnt want to be restricted in their speech. The west is now implementing speech control in europe (DSA. And then there is the all above question: Where shall all the germans live, when everything is multicultural. Things will get really harsh very fast. Prepare for ethnic conflicts in europe like the world has never seen before. It will be a bloody mess.
reply
Man, what are you talking about. You are not wrong entirely, but it is more about free speech and migration. The east does not want to become the multicultural shithole the west is. Simple as that. And the east doesnt want to be restricted in their speech. The west is now implementing speech control in europe (DSA. And then there is the all above question: Where shall all the germans live, when everything is multicultural. Things will get really harsh very fast. Prepare for ethnic conflicts in europe like the world has never seen before. It will be a bloody mess.
reply
nekomakhea9440
>Neo Nazi associated AfD dominated in former East Germany
It's almost like most East Germans have either personally lived through socialism or know someone that has, and thus vote against socialism because they hate it as much as every other Eastern European, rather than anything to do with Neo Nazis. Neo Nazis vote against _international_ socialism because they think _national_ socialism is a better form of socialism, Eastern Europeans vote against international socialism because they hate all forms socialism. They are not the same.
reply
>Neo Nazi associated AfD dominated in former East Germany
It's almost like most East Germans have either personally lived through socialism or know someone that has, and thus vote against socialism because they hate it as much as every other Eastern European, rather than anything to do with Neo Nazis. Neo Nazis vote against _international_ socialism because they think _national_ socialism is a better form of socialism, Eastern Europeans vote against international socialism because they hate all forms socialism. They are not the same.
reply
qwidium
From Romania. Here a historyan trying to explain the political shift on Romania's recent ellection incriminated poor educational sistem. He said that in contrast with ex Western Germany where they assumed the nazy heritage, in Romania didnt happend the same. Figures of Romanian Iron Guard appear sudently today on mainstream without nobody reacting.
I would like to know what is the case on Eastern Germany regarding ww2 events because i have the feeling it is happening the same phenomen as in Romania.
reply
From Romania. Here a historyan trying to explain the political shift on Romania's recent ellection incriminated poor educational sistem. He said that in contrast with ex Western Germany where they assumed the nazy heritage, in Romania didnt happend the same. Figures of Romanian Iron Guard appear sudently today on mainstream without nobody reacting.
I would like to know what is the case on Eastern Germany regarding ww2 events because i have the feeling it is happening the same phenomen as in Romania.
reply
Evinruderascal
Given I was born a few months prior to the erection of that infamous wall. your entire presentation is brilliant and historically accurate because I have followed all my life in Canada, especially in 72 when we beat the commies on their own terf ( despite constant under the radar harrassement. There still are alot of differences because of what Stalin created, as we all think that Germany is ok after the reunification treaty of 1990 said the borders are as is.
reply
Given I was born a few months prior to the erection of that infamous wall. your entire presentation is brilliant and historically accurate because I have followed all my life in Canada, especially in 72 when we beat the commies on their own terf ( despite constant under the radar harrassement. There still are alot of differences because of what Stalin created, as we all think that Germany is ok after the reunification treaty of 1990 said the borders are as is.
reply
ZATIRIX
You're misrepresenting the AfD. It certainly has problematic elements, but their program isn't much different than that of the CDU 20 years ago. They are a conservative party, which should certainly distance itself from problematic and extremist members. The party itself isn't extreme. People in Germany are fed up with how they and their culture have been treated. Either this will be taken seriously or escalate at some point.
reply
You're misrepresenting the AfD. It certainly has problematic elements, but their program isn't much different than that of the CDU 20 years ago. They are a conservative party, which should certainly distance itself from problematic and extremist members. The party itself isn't extreme. People in Germany are fed up with how they and their culture have been treated. Either this will be taken seriously or escalate at some point.
reply
reallifelore
At least wahman, we're mostly working and were encouraged to work in Communist East Germany. So It wasn't all that bad. Alright, like it even matters, lol. If anything, it helped the Communists indoctrinate the youth with their BS better. IMO It wasn't a fair trade-off at all. In general, females with kids should never be encouraged to work outside the home en-masse, at least in almost all cases and economic scenarios.
reply
At least wahman, we're mostly working and were encouraged to work in Communist East Germany. So It wasn't all that bad. Alright, like it even matters, lol. If anything, it helped the Communists indoctrinate the youth with their BS better. IMO It wasn't a fair trade-off at all. In general, females with kids should never be encouraged to work outside the home en-masse, at least in almost all cases and economic scenarios.
reply
urubu715
The benefits of living in the East aren't really benefits at all. More women in the workforce kids in daycare abortion That's a recipe for exactly what happened - a decline in civilization and standard of living. There's a reason people left in droves, even at the literal threat of death. I find it quite appalling that RealLifeLore would try to paint such a rosy picture for the GDR. Communism doesn't work.
reply
The benefits of living in the East aren't really benefits at all. More women in the workforce kids in daycare abortion That's a recipe for exactly what happened - a decline in civilization and standard of living. There's a reason people left in droves, even at the literal threat of death. I find it quite appalling that RealLifeLore would try to paint such a rosy picture for the GDR. Communism doesn't work.
reply
dylanslaseman1406
I’m so tired of people saying AFD is far right just bc they want to close the border and clean up illegal immigration and people pouring in and being disrespectful to their new country lol. But I mean hey if they want continuous terror attacks and paying more in taxes to support those people then go ahead. Just tired of people purposefully mislabeling parties as far right or far left lol.
reply
I’m so tired of people saying AFD is far right just bc they want to close the border and clean up illegal immigration and people pouring in and being disrespectful to their new country lol. But I mean hey if they want continuous terror attacks and paying more in taxes to support those people then go ahead. Just tired of people purposefully mislabeling parties as far right or far left lol.
reply
CarbonatedGravy
The east dramatically led the west on social issues are you kidding me Maybe one of those (daycare) is objectively positive and that’s only out of necessity because they forced EVERYONE to work instead of allowing mothers to be parents, actually one of the low points of the modern west is that most mothers need to work nowadays. High female employment isn’t a good thing by definition
reply
The east dramatically led the west on social issues are you kidding me Maybe one of those (daycare) is objectively positive and that’s only out of necessity because they forced EVERYONE to work instead of allowing mothers to be parents, actually one of the low points of the modern west is that most mothers need to work nowadays. High female employment isn’t a good thing by definition
reply
vincent_lvl1
As someone from saxony, i am very sad and feel Not proud of my Country anymore. The AfD Party just has to be an Experiment, of how dumb people actually are. I am sorry, but sentences Like now, that there are so many Migrants are Here, a Holocaust would actually pay of once again. Like what. And people actually Support this. I am actually scared, of how the next years will be Here in Germany.
reply
As someone from saxony, i am very sad and feel Not proud of my Country anymore. The AfD Party just has to be an Experiment, of how dumb people actually are. I am sorry, but sentences Like now, that there are so many Migrants are Here, a Holocaust would actually pay of once again. Like what. And people actually Support this. I am actually scared, of how the next years will be Here in Germany.
reply
sirbork3116
I doubt you will see this but it's worth a try, but could you make a video about this but for Austria. It feels like when ever the cold war is brought up Austria is just there. It feels like nothing really happeppend there but it was split just like Germany, capital city too. It might also be fun to compare and contrast it to Germany and see if they also have similar splits.
reply
I doubt you will see this but it's worth a try, but could you make a video about this but for Austria. It feels like when ever the cold war is brought up Austria is just there. It feels like nothing really happeppend there but it was split just like Germany, capital city too. It might also be fun to compare and contrast it to Germany and see if they also have similar splits.
reply
lamaj9750
I’m East German born and raised and I couldn’t finish watching this video it’s a very deep trauma
The west gutted us for penny’s on a dollar
My granddad used to be biggest farmer in Stendal region after the soviets took all our lands and after the Treuhand revision we were left with nothing and generations of poverty it is really disgusting
reply
I’m East German born and raised and I couldn’t finish watching this video it’s a very deep trauma
The west gutted us for penny’s on a dollar
My granddad used to be biggest farmer in Stendal region after the soviets took all our lands and after the Treuhand revision we were left with nothing and generations of poverty it is really disgusting
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
